To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart; Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are That I account them blessings; for by these Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants. Serv. My lord, my lord, Tim. I will despatch you severally.-You, to lord To lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his Commend me to their loves; and, I am proud, say, Be fifty talents. Flum. As you have said, my lord. Flav. Lord Lucius, and lord Lucullus? humph! [Aside. Tim. Go you, sir, [To another Serv.] to the se nators (Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have Deserv'd this hearing), bid 'em send o'the instant A thousand talents to me. Flav. I have been bold (For that I knew it the most general way), To them to use your signet, and your name; * If I would (says Timon), by borrowing, try of what men's hearts are composed, what they have in them, &c. ↑ Dignified, made respectable. But they do shake their heads, and I am here Tim. Is't true? can it be? Flav. 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 honourable, But yet they could have wish'd-they know notbut Something hath been amiss-a noble nature May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity And so, intending t other serious matters, After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, With certain half-caps, 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 Flav.] 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 Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends, I clear'd him with five talents; Greet him from me; Bid him suppose, some good necessity ie. At an ebb. Intending, had anciently the same meaning as attending. Broken hints, abrupt remarks. A half-cap is a cap slightly moved, not put off. 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. Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down to you. Flam. I thank you, sir. Enter Lucullus. 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, free-hearted 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: Liberal, not parsimonious. + For respectfully. 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 lord. ship 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 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 no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and say, thou saw'st me not. Fare thee well. Honesty here means liberality. 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. Lucul. Ha! Now I see, thou art a fool, and fit [Exit Lucullus. Flam. May these add to the number that may for thy master. scald thee! Let molten coin be thy damnation, Thou disease of a friend, and not himself! Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him: 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 [Exit. SCENE II. The same. A public piace. Enter Lucius, with three Strangers. Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman. 1 Stran. We know § him for no less, though we i.e. And we who were alive then, alive now. Suffering; Liturgy. By his bloody cross and passion. Acknowledge. |