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? Var. Serv. 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 asked the question.- Poor rogues and usurers' men! bawds between gold and want. All Serv. What are we, Apemantus? Apem. Asses.

All Serv. Why?

Enter TIMON, ALCIBIADES, ana Lords, &c. Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll 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? Caph.

Of Athens here, my lord.

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,

-

All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: How does you mistress?

Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are. 'Would we could see you a

Corinth.

t 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 foolery as I have, so much wit thou lackest. Apem. That answer might have become Apeman

tus.

as much

At many leisures I propos'd.

Tim. Go to: Perchance, some single vantages you took, When my indisposition put you back; And that unaptness made your minister, Thus to excuse yourself.

Flav.

O my good lord! 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, greatest of your having lacks a half To pay your present debts.

The

Tim.

Let all my land be sold. Flav. 'Tis all engag'd, 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.
Flat. O my good lord, the world is but a word;

Tim.

Come, sermon me no further:
No villainous 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,

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. I will despatch you severally. You, to lord Lucius,

To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his
Honour 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.
Tim. Go you, sir, [to another Serv.] to the se-

SCENE I.. The same.

House.

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,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,

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 FLAY.]
give it these fellows

To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak, or think,
That Timon's fortune '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.

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

Flam. His health is well, sir.

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's 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

thee. Get you gone, sirrah.—[To the Servant, & hu goes out.]-Draw nearer, honest Flaminius. T 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; espcially upon bare friendship, without security. Here s three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, as1 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 aus. Lucul. Ha! now I see, thou art a fool, and for thy master. [Erit LvcvLLL Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation,
Thou 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 honour, 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 1

SCENE II. The same. A publick Place. Enter Lucius, with Three Strangers. Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very go friend, and an honourable gentleman.

1 Stran. We know him for no less, though are but strangers to him. But I can tell you c thing, my lord, and which I hear from com rumours; now lord Timon's happy hours are d and past, and his estate shrinks from him.

Luc. Fye no, do not believe it; he cannot for money.

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that, t long ago, one of his men was with the lord L

cullus, to borrow so many talents; nay, urged ex- | tremely 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 Denied that hothe gods, I am ashamed on't. nourable 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.

Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well:- Commend me to thy honourablevirtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

sent

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath

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 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. [Erit Lucive. 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 has been this lord's father, And kept his credit with his purse;

For mine own part,

[Exeunt.

me?

He has much disgrac'd 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 e'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 sake;
I had 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.

Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politick; 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 politick love.
U u 2

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. [Exit FLAMINIUS.

Enter FLAVIUS, in a cloak, muffled.

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?

1 Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,
Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flav.

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 th' 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.

Flav.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve. If 'twill not. 'Tis not so base as you; for you serve knaves. [Eri 1 Var. Serv. How! what does his cashier'd wor ship mutter?

2 Var. Serv. No matter what; he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broade than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.

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. 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 yours?

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.

1 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.