Of the fame piece is every flatterer's fpirit.
Who can call him his friend,

That dips in the fame difh? for, in my knowing,
Timon has been to this Lord as a father,
And kept his credit with his bounteous 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, oh, fee the monftroufness 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 grones at it.

I Stran. For mine own part,
I never tafted Timon in my life;
Nor any of his bounties came o'er me,
To mark me for his friend. Yet I proteft,
For his right noble mind, illuftrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,

Had his neceffity made ufe of me,

I would have put my wealth into partition,
And the beft half fhould have attorn'd to him,
So much I love his heart; but I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
For policy fits above confcience.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Enter a third Servant with Sempronius.

Sem. Muft he needs trouble me in't? 'bove all o

thers?

He might have tried Lord Lucius, or Lucullus;

And now Ventidius is wealthy too,

Whom he redeem'd from prifon : all these three
Owe their eftates unto him.

Ser. Oh, my Lord,

They've all been touch'd, and all are found bafe metal;

For they have all deny'd him.

Sem. How? deny'd him?

Ventidius and Lucullus both deny'd him?

And does he fend to me? three! hum

It fhews but little love or judgment in him.

Muft I be his last refuge? his friends, like phyficians,

L 2

ti. e. confidering Timon's claim for what he afks.

Try'd, give him over; must I take the cure

On me? H'as much disgrac'd me in't; I'm angry.

He might have known my place; I fee no fenfe for't, But his occafions might have wooed me first :

For, in my confcience, I was the first man

That e'er received gift from him.

And does he think fo backwardly of me,
That I'll requite it laft? no:

So it may prove an argument of laughter

To th' reft, and 'mongft Lords I be thought a fool.
I'd rather than the worth of thrice the fum,
H'ad fent to me firft, but for my mind's fake:
I'd fuch a courage to have done him good.
But now return,

And with their faint reply this answer join :

Who bates mine honour, fhall not know my coin. [Exit.

Ser. Excellent! your Lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politic; he crofs'd himself by't; and I cannot think, but in the end the policy of man will fet him clear †. How fairly this Lord ftrives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like thofe that under hot, ardent zeal would fet whole realms on fire. Of fuch a nature is his politic love.

This was my Lord's beft hope; now all are fled,
Save the gods only. Now his friends are dead;
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, muft be employ'd
Now to guard fure their master.

And this is all a liberal course allows;

Who cannot keep his wealth, muft keep his house.

SCENE IV. Changes to Timon's hall.

[Exit.

Enter Varro, Titus, Hortenfius, Lucius, and other fervants of Timon's creditors, who wait for his coming out. Var. Well met, good morrow, Titus and Hortenfius. Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.

Hor.

+ Set him clear does not mean acquit him before heaven; for then the devil must be supposed to know what he did; but it fignifics puzzle him, outdo him at his own weapons,

Hor. Lucius, why do we meet together?

Luc. I think one bufinefs does command us all :

For mine is money.

Tit. So is theirs, and ours.

Enter Philo.

Luc. And Sir Philo's too.

Phi. Good day, at once.

Luc. Welcome, good brother. What d' you think the hour?

Phi. I wonder: he was wont to fhine at feven. -Luc. Ay, but the days are waxed shorter with him. You must confider that a prodigal's courfe

Is like the fun's, but not like his, recoverable, I fear.
'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purfe;

That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.

Phi. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll fhew you how t' obferve a strange event. Your Lord fends now for

Hor.. True, he does.

money.

Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,, For which I wait for money.

Hor. Against my heart.

Luc. How ftrange it shows,

Timon in this fhould pay more than he owes !
And e'en as if your Lord fhould wear rich jewels,
And fend for money for 'em..

Hor. I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witnefs. I know my Lord hath spent of Timon's wealth: Ingratitude now makes it worse than stealth.

Var. Yes, mine's three thoufand crowns; what's your's?

Luc. Five thousand.

Var. 'Tis much too deep; and it should seem, by th Your mafter's confidence † was above mine,

Elfe furely his had equall'd.

L 3

Play on the word confidence.

Efum,.

Enter

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Flaminius! Sir, a word. Pray, is my Lord Ready to come forth?

Flam. No, indeed he is not.

Tit. We attend his Lordship; pray fignify so much. Flam. I need not tell him that, he knows you are too diligent.

He

Enter Flavius in a cloak muffled.

Luc. Ha! is not that his fteward muffled fo?
goes away in a cloud : call him, call him.
Tit. Do you hear, Sir-

Var. By your leave, Sir.

Flav. What do you ask of me, my friend?
Tit. We wait for certain money here, Sir.

Flav. If money were as certain as your waiting, "Twere fure enough.

Why then preferr'd you not your fums and bills,
When your falfe masters eat of my Lord's meat?
Then they would smile and fawn upon his debts,
And take down th' intereft in their glutt'nous maws.
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up,
Let me pafs quietly.

Believe't, my Lord and I have made an end;
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Luc. Ay, but this answer will not ferve.
Flav. If 'twill not ferve, 'tis not fo bafe as you;
you ferve knaves.

For

[Exit. Var. How! what does his cashier'd Worship mutter? Tit. No matter, what he's poor, and that's revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no houfe to put his head in? Such may rail against great buildings.

Enter Servilius.

Tit. Oh, here's Servilius; now we fhall have fome anfwer.

For

Ser. If I might befeech you, Gentlemen, to repair fome other hour, I fhould derive much from it. take it of my foul,

My

My Lord leans wondrously to discontent.

His comfortable temper has forfook him,

He is much out of health, and keeps his chamber.
Luc. Many do keep their chambers, are not fick :
And if he be fo far beyond his health,

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

Ser. Good Gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for an answer.

Flam. [within. Servilius, help-my Lord! my

Lord!

SCENE V.

Enter Timon in a rage.

Tim. What, are my doors oppos'd againft my paffage? Have I been ever free, and must my houfe

Be my retentive enemy. my goal?

The place which I have feafted, does it now,

Like all mankind, fhew me an iron heart?

Luc. Put in now, Titus.

Tit. My Lord, here's my bill.

Luc. Here's mine.

Var. And mine, my Lord..

Cap. And ours, my

Phi. And our bills.

Lord.

Tim. Knock me down with 'em-cleave me to the

girdle.

Luc. Alas! my Lord..

Tim. Cut out my heart in fums.

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.

Tim. Tell out my blood.

Luc. Five thousand crowns, my Lord.

Tim. Five thousand drops pay that.

What's your's and your's?

Var. My Lord

Cap. My Lord

Tim. Here tear me, take me, and the gods fall on

you.

[Exit.

Hor. 'Faith, I perceive our mafters may throw their caps at their money. These debts may be well call'd defperate ones, for a madman owes 'em.

[Exeunt.

[Re-enter.