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? 2 Stran. Ay, too well. 1 Stran. Why this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece For mine own part, I never tasted Timon in my life, Had his necessity made use of me, [Exeunt. He has much disgrac'd me in't; I am angry at him, Serv. 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 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 politick love. This was my lord's best hopes; now all are fled, SCENE IV. - A Hall in Timon's House. Enter two Servants of VARRO, and the Servant LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming Ay, and, I think, One business does command us all; for mine Is money. Tit. I would have put my wealth into donation, He might have tried lord Lucius, or Lucullus; Whom he redeem'd from prison: All these three Serv. O my lord, They have all been touch'd, and found base metal; for They have all denied him! Sem. Luc. Serv. Phi. So is theirs and ours. Enter PHILOTUS. Good day at once. Luc. Ser. What do you think the hour? Phi. And sir Welcome, good brother. Luc. Ser. So much? Phi. Labouring for nine. 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 How! have they denied him? Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable. Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him? Thrive, give him over; Must I take the cure upon me? I fear, 'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet Find little. Phi. I am of your fear for that. Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange event. Your lord sends now for money. Hor. Most true, he does. | Methinks, he should the sooner pay his debts, Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, 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, Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine. 1 Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should seem And make a clear way to the gods. 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? Have I been ever free, and must my house The place, which I have feasted, does it now, Tit. My lord, here is my bill. Hor. Serv. And mine, my lord. Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord. Phi. All our bills. For pity is the virtue of the law, And none but tyrants use it cruelly. 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, The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill? 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, If I speak like a captain. Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. In vain? his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, Were a sufficient briber for his life. 1 Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies: How full of valour did he bear himself In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he Is a sworn rioter; h'as a sin that often Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: If there were no foes, that were enough alone To overcome him: in that beastly fury He has been known to commit outrages, And cherish factions: 'Tis inferr'd to us, Ilis days are foul, and his drink dangerous. 8 Manage, govern. 9 For aggravation. 1 Sen. He dies. Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, 1 Sen. We are for law, he dies; urge it no more, On height of our displeasure: Friend, or brother, He forfeits his own blood, that spills another. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! [Exit. SCENE VI. A magnificent Room in Timon's House. Musick. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, at several Doors. 1 Lord. The good time of day to you, sir. 2 Lord. I also wish it to you. I think, this honourable lord did but try us this other day. 1 Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring", when we encountered: I hope it is not so low with him, as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends. earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and I must needs appear. 2 Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision was out. 1 Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand how all things go. 2 Lord. Every man here's so. have borrowed of you? 1 Lord. A thousand pieces. 2 Lord. A thousand pieces! 1 Lord. What of you? What would he 3 Lord. He sent to me, sir - Here he comes. Enter TIMON, and Attendants. Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both :- - And how fare you? 1 Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your lordship. 2 Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing, than we your lordship. Tim. [Aside.] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such summer-birds are men. - Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense this long stay: feast your ears with the musick awhile; if they will fare so harshly on the trumpet's sound: we shall to't presently. 1 Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger. Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you. 2 Lord. My noble lord, Tim. Ah, my good friend, what cheer? [The Banquet brought in. 2 Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me, I was so unfortunate a beggar. Tim. Think not on't, sir. 2 Lord. If you had sent but two hours before, Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. - Come, bring in all together. 2 Lord. All covered dishes! 1 Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you. 3 Lord. Doubt not that, if money and the season can yield it. 1 Lord. How do you? what's the news? 3 Lord. Alcibiades is banished: Hear you of it? 1 & 2 Lord. Alcibiades banished! 3 Lord. 'Tis so, be sure of it. 1 Lord. How? how? 2 Lord. I pray you, upon what? Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near? 3 Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble feast toward. 2 Lord. This is the old man still. 3 Lord. Will't hold? will't hold? 2 Lord. It does: but time wili — and so 3 Lord. I do conceive. Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place: Sit, sit. The gods require our thanks. You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised but reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to each man enough, that one need not lend to another: for, were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake the gods. Make the meat be beloved, more than the man that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains: If there sit twelve women at the table, let a dozen of them be· — as they are. — The rest of your |fees, O gods,- the senators of Athens, together with the common lag of people, what is amiss in them, you gods make suitable for destruction. For these my present friends, - as they are to me nothing, sa in nothing bless them, and to nothing they are welcome. Uncover, dogs, and lap. [The dishes uncovered are full of warm water. Tim. May you a better feast never behold, water Is your perfection. This is Timon's last; [Throwing water in their faces. Crust you quite o'er ! -What, dost thou go? thou; [Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out. [Erit. Re-enter the Lords, with other Lords and Senators. 1 Lord. How now, my lords? 2 Lord. Know you the quality of lord Timon's fury? 3 Lord. Pish! did you see my cap? 4 Lord. I have lost my gown. 3 Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour sways him. He gave me a jewel the other day, and now he has beat it out of my hat:- Did you see my jewel? 4 Lord. Did you see my cap? 2 Lord. Here 'tis. 4 Lord. Here lies my gown. 1 Lord. Let's make no stay. |