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The fame. A Room in Lucullus's House.

FLAMINIUS waiting. Enter a Servant to him.

Serv. I have told my lord of you, he is coming down

to you.

Flam. I thank

you, fir.

Enter LUCULLUS.

Serv. Here's my lord.

Lucul. [Afide.] One of lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a filver bafon and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honeft Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, fir.-Fill me fome 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, fir.

Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, fir: And what haft thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. 'Faith, nothing but an empty box, fir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to fupply; who having great and inftant occafion to use fifty talents, hath fent to your lordship to furnish him; nothing doubting your prefent affiftance therein.

Lucul. La, la, la, la,—nothing doubting, fays he? alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep fo good a house. Many a time and often I have dined with him, and told him on't; and come again to fupper

9

to

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. Læcul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee.

Fla. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucul. I have obferved thee always for a towardly prompt fpirit,-give thee thy due,—and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time ufe thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, firrah. [To the Servant, who goes out.]—Draw nearer, honeft Flaminius. Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wife; and thou know'ft well enough, although thou comeft to me, that this is no time to lend money; especially upon bare friendship, without fecurity. Here's three folidares for thee; good boy, wink at me, and fay, thou faw'ft me not. Fare thee well.

Flam. Is't poffible, 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 fee, thou art a fool, and fit for thy mafter. [Exit LUCULLUS. Flam. May thefe add to the number that may scald thee!

Let molten coin be thy damnation,

Thou difeafe of a friend, and not himself!
Has friendship fuch a faint and milky heart,
It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master's paffion! This slave

Unto

ོགས་པ།

The fame. A publick Place.

Enter LUCIUS, with three Strang

Luc. Who, the lord Timon? he is my ve and an honourable gentleman.

1 Stran. We know him for no lefs, tho ftrangers to him. But I can tell you one t and which I hear from common rumours mon's happy hours are done and past, fhrinks from him.

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

2 Stran. But believe you this, my lord, ago, one of his men was with the lord Lu row so many talents; nay, urged extrem show'd what neceffity belong'd to't, and ye Luc. How?

2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. What a strange cafe was that? n gods, I am afham'd on't. Denied that ho there was very little honour fhow'd in't. part, I must needs confefs, I have recei

D

kindnesses from him, as money, plate, jewels, and such like trifles, nothing comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him, and fent to me, I fhould ne'er have denied his occafion fo many talents.

Enter SERVILIUS.

Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat to see his honour.-My honour'd lord,— [To LUCIUS. Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, fir. Fare thee well:-Commend me to thy honourable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath fent

Luc. Ha! what has he fent? I am fo much endear'd to that lord; he's ever fending: How fhall I thank him, think'ft thou? And what has he fent now?

Ser. He has only fent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to fupply his inftant ufe with fo 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 lefs, my lord. If his occafion were not virtuous,

I should not urge it half fo faithfully.

Luc. Doft thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Ser. Upon my foul, 'tis true, fir.

Luc. What a wicked beast was I, to disfurnish myself against fuch a good time, when I might have shown myfelf honourable? how unluckily it happen'd, 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 fay:-I was fending to ufe lord Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done it

now.

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 fuch an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me so far, as to use mine own words to him?

Ser. Yes, fir, I fhall.

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.

1 Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius ?
2 Stran. Ay, too well.,

■ Stran. Why this

[Exit LUCIUS.

Is the world's foul; and juft of the fame piece
Is every flatterer's fpirit. Who can call him
His friend, that dips in the fame dish? for, in
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,
And kept his credit with his purse ;

Supported his eftate; nay, Timon's money
Has paid his men their wages: He ne'er drinks,
But Timon's filver treads upon his lip;
And yet, (O, see the monftrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape !)
He does deny him, in refpect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
3 Stran. Religion groans at it.

I Stran.

For mine own part,

I never tafted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I proteft,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,

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