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
SERVILIUS See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord;
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,–
To LUCIUS
LUCILIUS Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:
commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very
exquisite friend.
SERVILIUS May it please your honour, my lord hath sent–
LUCILIUS 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?
SERVILIUS Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use
with so many talents.
LUCILIUS I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.
SERVILIUS But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
LUCILIUS Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
SERVILIUS Upon my soul,’tis true, sir.
LUCILIUS What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
against such a good time, when I might ha’ shown
myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I
should purchase the day before for a little part,
and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now,
before the gods, I am not able to do,–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’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, 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?
SERVILIUS Yes, sir, I shall.
LUCILIUS I’ll 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
First Stranger Do you observe this, Hostilius?
Second Stranger Ay, too well.
First Stranger 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 has 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,
But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip;
And yet–O, 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.
Third Stranger Religion groans at it.
First Stranger 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 honourable 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
Scene 3
A room in Sempronius’ house.
Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a Servant of TIMON’s
SEMPRONIUS Must he needs trouble me in ‘t,–hum!–‘bove
all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem’d from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.
Servant My lord,
They have all been touch’d and found base metal, for
They have au denied him.
SEMPRONIUS How! have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
And does he send to me? Three? hum!
It shows but little love or judgment in him:
Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like
physicians,
Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?
Has much disgraced me in’t; I’m angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no sense for’t,
But his occasion might have woo’d me first;
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e’er received gift from him:
And does he think so backwardly of me now,
That I’ll requite its last? No:
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the rest, and ‘mongst lords I be thought a fool.
I’ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
I’d such a courage to do him good. But now return,
And with their faint reply this answer join;
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.
Exit
Servant 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,
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 sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
Exit
Scene 4
The same. A hall in Timon’s house.
Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants of TIMON’s creditors, waiting his coming out
First Servant Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS The like to you kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucilius’s Servant Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
TITUS So is theirs and ours.
Enter PHILOTUS
Lucilius’s Servant And Sir Philotus too!
PHILOTUS Good day at once.
Lucilius’s Servant Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
PHILOTUS Labouring for nine.
Lucilius’s Servant So much?
PHILOTUS Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucilius’s Servant Not yet.
PHILOTUS I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucilius’s Servant Ay, but the days are wax’d shorter with him:
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun’s; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear ’tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse;
That is one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.
PHILOTUS I am of your fear for that.
TITUS I’ll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
HORTENSIUS Most true, he does.
TITUS And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
HORTENSIUS It is against my heart.
Lucilius’s Servant 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.
HORTENSIUS 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 worse than stealth.
First Servant Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns: what’s yours?
Lucilius’s Servant Five thousand mine.
First Servant ‘Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master’s confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall’d.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
TITUS One of Lord Timon’s men.
Lucilius’s Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to
come forth?
FLAMINIUS No, indeed, he is not.
TITUS We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
FLAMINIUS I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Exit
Enter FLAVIUS in a cloak, muffled
Lucilius’s Servant Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
TITUS Do you hear, sir?
Second Servant By your leave, sir,–
FLAVIUS What do ye ask of me, my friend?
TITUS We wait for certain money here, sir.
FLAVIUS Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
‘Twere sure enough.
Why then preferr’d you not your sums and bills,
When your false masters eat of my lord’s meat?
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts
And take down the interest into their
gluttonous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;
Let me pass quietly:
Believe ‘t, my lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.
Lucilius’s Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.
FLAVIUS If ’twill not serve,’tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
Exit
First Servant How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?