Tim. And now I remember me, my lord, you gave Thou'lt not hear me now,-thou shalt not then, Good words the other day of a bay courser

Thy heaven from thee. O,that men's ears should be

2 Lord. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, in To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!

ACT II.

Caph. Would we were all discharged!
Var. Serv.

Caph. Here comes the lord.

Apem. There will little learning die then, that I fear it. day thou art hanged. This is to lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd.

Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, and Lords, &c.
Tim. So soon as dinner's done, w'ell forth again,
My Alcibiades.-With me? What's your will?
Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.
Tim. Dues? Whence are you?
Of Athens here, my lord.
Caph.
Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awak'd by great occasion,

To call upon his own; and humbly prays you,
That with your other noble parts you'll suit,
In giving him his right.

Tim.

Mine honest friend,

I pr'ythee, but repair to me next morning.
Caph. Nay, good my lord,-
Contain thyself, good friend.
Tim.
Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord:-
From Isidore;
Isid. Serv.
He humbly prays your speedy payment,-
Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's

wants,

Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks,

And past,

Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my 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
[TO FLAVIUS.
you;
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds,
And the detention of long-since-due debts,
Against my honor?
Flav.
Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business:
Your importunacy cease, till after dinner;
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim.
See them well entertain'd.

Flav.

Do so, my friends:
Exit TIMON.
[Exit FLAVIUS.
I pray, draw near.
Enter APEMANTUS and a Fool.

Caph. Stay, stay; here comes the fool with Ape

mantus; 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?
Vur. 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 ask'd the question.-Poor rogues,
and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want!
All Serv. What are we, Apemantus?
Apem. Asses.

All Serv. Why?

Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do 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 'Would we could see you chickens as you are.

at Corinth.

Apem. Good! gramercy.

Enter Page.

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 super-
scription of these letters; I know not which is which.
Apem. Canst not read?
Page. No.

Page. Thou wast whelped a dog; and thou shalt
[Exit Page.
famish, a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone.

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 serv'd us!

Apem. So would I,-as good a trick as ever hangman served thief.

Fool. Are you three usurers' men?
All Serv. Ay, fool.

Fool. I think, no usurer but has a fool to his servant: My mistress is one, and I am her fool. 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 notwithstanding thou shalt be no less esteemed.

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 his 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

Had you not fully laid my state before me;
That I might so have rated my expense,
As I had leave of means?
Flav.

You would not hear me,
At many leisures I propos'd.
Go to:
Tim.
Perchance, some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back;
And that unaptness made your minister,
Thus to excuse yourself.

O my good lord!
Flav.
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
Not seldom, nor no slight checks; when I have
Prompted you, in the ebb of your estate,
And your great flow of debts. My dear-lov'd lord,
Though you hear now, (too late!) yet now's a time,
The greatest of your having lacks a half
To pay your present debts.
Let all my land be sold.
Tim.
Flav. 'Tis all engaged, 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 a word;
Were it all yours, to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone!

You tell me true.
Tim.
Flav. If you suspect my husbandry, or falsehood,
Call me before the exactest auditors,

A certain sum.

And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
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 minstrelsy;
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 farther:
No villanous 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.

Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd,9

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. Go you, sir, [To another Serv.] to the
senators,

(Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have
beserv'd this hearing,) bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to ine.
I have been bold,

Flav.

(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?

Fiav. 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 honor-
able,-

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, intending2 other serious matters,
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions,
With certain half-caps,3 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

Buried his father; by whose death, he's stepp'd
Into a great estate; when he was poor,

Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You, to Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

lord Lucius,

To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his
Honor 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.

I clear'd him with five talents: Greet him from me;
Bid him suppose, some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents: that had,-[To FLAV.]
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.

Serv. 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 basin and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.-[Exit Servant.] And how does that honorable, complete, free-hearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master?

Flam. His health is well, sir.

Le cul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir. And what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius!

Flem. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; whie h, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honor to supply: who, having great and instant occassion 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 'us, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often have I dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him, of purpose to have The apartments allotted to culinary offices, &c. Digified, made respectable. For respectfully.

him spend less; and yet he would embrace no
counsel, take no warning by my coming. Every
him on't, but I could never get him from it.
man has his fault, and honesty is his; I have told

Re-enter Servant, with Wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. 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 not a time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou sawest 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.

2 Intending had anciently the saine meaning as attending. A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. 4 For ingenuously. Liberal, not parsimonious. Honesty here means liberality.

for thy master.

Lucul. Ha! Now I see thou art a fool, and fit [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee'

Let molten coin be thy damnation,

Thon disease of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O, you gods,
I feel my master's passion!? This slave
Unto his honor has my lord's meat in him:
Why should it thrive, and turn to nutriment,
When he is turn'd to poison?

O, may diseases only work upon't!

And when he is sick to death, let not that part of

nature

Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!

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?
2 Stran. Ay, too well.
1 Stran. Why this

Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon hath been this lord's father.
And kept his credit with his purse;

Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages; He ne'er drinks,
[Exit. But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;

SCENE II-A Public Place.
Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.
Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good
friend, and an honorable 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 rumors; 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 show'd what necessity belong'd 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'm ashamed on't. Denied that honorable man? there was very little honor 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.

Ser. See, my good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honor.-My honored lord,

[To LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well;-Commend me to thy honorable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. May it please your honor, 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 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 honorable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honor?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 honor 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 honorable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

• Suffering.

And yet, (0, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!)
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.
1 Stran.

For mine own part,

I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honorable carriage,

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.

[Exeunt.

sicians,

Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure upon
me?
He has much disgraced me in't; I am angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no sense
for't.

But his occasions might have woo'd me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That c'er received gift from him:
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I'll requite it last? No: So it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,

And I amongst the lords be thought a fool.

I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum
He had sent to me first, but for my mind's sakei
I had such a courage to do him good. But 120W

return,