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 use lord Timon myself, thefe gentlemen can witnefs; 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, fay, that I cannot pleasure fuch an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you befriend me fo far, as to use mine own words to him? SER. Yes, fir, I fhall. Luc. I will look you out a good turn, Servilius.- True, as you faid, Timon is shrunk, indeed; [Exit LUCIUS, I STRAN. Do you obferve this, Hoftilius? 2 STRAN. Ay, too well. I STRAN. Why this Is the world's foul; and just of the fame piece Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him His friend, that dips in the same dish? for, in And yet, (O, see the monftroufness of man 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, illuftrious virtue, Had his neceffity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation, [Exeunt. SCENE III. The fame. A Room in SEMPRONIUS'S House. Enter SEMPRONIUS, and a SERVANT of Timon's. SEM. Must he needs trouble me in't? Humph! 'Bove all others? 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. SERV. O my lord, They have all been touch'd, and found bafe metal; for They have all deny'd him? SEM. How! have they deny'd him? Has Ventidius and Lucullus deny'd him? Muft I be his last refuge? His friends, like phyficians, For, in my confcience, I was the first man And does he think so backwardly of me now, And I amongst the lords be thought a fool. I had rather than the worth of thrice the fum, [Exit.. SERV. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did, when he made man politick; he cross'd himself by't: and I cannot think, but, in the end, the villainies of man will fet him clear. How fairly this lord ftrives to appear foul? takes virtuous copies to be wicked; like those that, under hot ardent zeal, would fet whole realms on fire. Of fuch a nature is his politick love. This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled, And this is all a liberal course allows; Who cannot keep his wealth, must keep his house. [Exit. SCENE IV. The fame. A Hall in TIMON'S House. Enter two SERVANTS of VARRO, and the SERVANT of LUCIUS, meeting TITUS, HORTENSIUS, and other Servants to TIMON's Creditors, waiting his coming out. VAR. SERV. Well met; good-morrow, Titus and HorTIT. The like to you, kind Varro. HOR. Lucius? What, do we meet together? LUC. SERV. Ay, and, I think, One bufinefs does command us all; for mine Is money. TIT. So is theirs and ours. Enter PHILOTUS, LUC. SERV. And fir Philotus too! PHI. Good day at once. LUC. SERV. Welcome, good brother. What do you think the hour? PHI. Labouring for nine. LUC. SERV. So much? PHI. Is not my lord feen yet? LUC. SERV. Not yet. [tenfius. PHI. I wonder on't; he was wont to fhine at feven. LUC. SERV. Ay, but the days are waxed fhorter with him: You must confider, that a prodigal courfe Is like the fun's; but not, like his, recoverable. 'Tis deepest winter in lord Timon's purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet Find little. PHI. I am of your fear for that. TIT. I'll show you how to observe a strange event. Your lord fends now for money. HOR. Moft 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 ftrange it shows, Timon in this should pay more than he owes : 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 ftealth. 1 VAR. SERV. Yes, mine's three thoufand crowns: What's yours? LUC. SERV. Five thoufand mine. [the fum, 1 VAR. SERV. 'Tis much deep and it fhould feem by Your mafter's confidence was above mine; Elfe, furely, his had equall'd. Enter FLAMINIUS. TIT. One of lord Timon's men. LUC. SERV. Flaminius! fir, a word: 'Pray, is 'Pray, is my lord ready to come forth? FLAM. No, indeed, he is not. Tir. We attend his lordship; 'pray, fignify fo much. FLAM. I need not tell him that; he knows, you are too diligent. He [Exit FLAMINIUS. Enter FLAVIUs in a cloak, muffled. LUC. SERV. Ha! is not that his fteward muffled fo? goes away in a cloud: call him, call him. TIT. Do you hear, fir? 1 VAR. SERV. By your leave, fir, FLAV. What do you ask of me, my friend? |