Luc. Serv. So much?

Phi

Luc. Serv.

Is not my lord seen yet?

Not yet.

IO

Phi. I wonder on 't; he was wont to shine at seven.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him: You must consider that a prodigal course

Phi.

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.

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.
Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,

For which I wait for money.

Hor. It is against my heart.

Luc. Serv.

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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'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 Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns:
what's yours?

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.

30

First Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should seem by

the sum

Your master's confidence was above mine;

Else, surely, his had equall'd.

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Serv. Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is 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.

Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.

[Exit. 40

Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.

Tit. Do you hear, sir?

Sec. Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,

Flav. What do ye ask of me, my friend?

Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flav.

Ay,

If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twas sure enough.

50

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 in 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.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Flav. If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you;

For you serve knaves.

First Var. Serv. How!

worship mutter?

[Exit.

what does his cashiered 60

Sec. 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? such
may rail against great buildings.

Enter Servilius.

Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some

answer.

Ser. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some
other hour, I should derive much from 't; for,
take 't of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to 70
discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook
him; he's much out of health and keeps his
chamber.

Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers are not sick:
And if it be so far beyond his health,

Ser.

Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.

Good gods!
Tit. We cannot take this for answer, sir.

Flam. [Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!

Enter Timon, in a rage; Flaminius following.

Tim. What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?

The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

Luc. Serv. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My lord, here is my bill.
Luc. Serv. Here's mine.

Hor. And mine, my lord.

81

Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.

Phi. All our bills.

90

Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle. Luc. Serv. Alas, my lord,

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.
Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.

Tim. Five thousand drops pays that. What's yours?—

and yours?

First Var. Serv. My lord,

Sec. Var. Serv. My lord,

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you! 100

[Exit. Hor. Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

[Exeunt.

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the

slaves. Creditors? devils!

Flav. My dear lord,

Tim. What if it should be so?

Flav. My lord,—

Tim. I'll have it so. My steward!

Flav. Here, my lord.

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius: all:

Flav.

I'll once more feast the rascals.

O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out

ΙΙΟ

Tim.

A moderate table.

Be it not in thy care; go,

I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide

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

Scene V.

The Senate-house.

The Senate sitting.

[Exeunt.

First Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die:

Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. Sec. Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him.

Enter Alcibiades, attended.

Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!
First Sen. Now, captain?

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,

And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that without heed do plunge into 't.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,

Of comely virtues:

Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice

An honour in him which buys out his fault-
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,

Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:

ΙΟ

20