To Servant
Get you gone, sirrah.
Exit Servant
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 sawest me not. Fare thee well.
Flaminius
Is’t possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee!
Throwing the money back
Lucullus
Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy master.
Exit
Flaminius
May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let moulten 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 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’s sick to death, let not that part of nature
Which my lord paid for, be of any power
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour!
Exit
SCENE II. A PUBLIC PLACE.
Enter Lucilius, with three Strangers
Lucilius
Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman.
First Stranger
We know him for no less, though we are but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now Lord Timon’s happy hours are done and past, and his estate shrinks from him.
Lucilius
Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.
Second Stranger
But believe you this, my lord, that, not long ago, one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow so many talents, nay, urged extremely for’t and showed what necessity belonged to’t, and yet was denied.
Lucilius
How!
Second Stranger
I tell you, denied, my lord.
Lucilius
What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, I am ashamed on’t. Denied that honourable 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.
Enter Servilius
Servilius
See, by good hap, yonder’s my lord;
I have sweat to see his honour. My honoured lord,—
To Lucius
Lucilius
Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee well: commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend.
Servilius
May it please your honour, my lord hath sent —
Lucilius
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?
Servilius
Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents.
Lucilius
I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.
Servilius
But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.
Lucilius
Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?
Servilius
Upon my soul,’tis true, sir.
Lucilius
What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time, when I might ha’ shown myself honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal of honoured! Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able to do,— 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’t 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?
Servilius
Yes, sir, I shall.
Lucilius
I’ll 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.
Exit
First Stranger
Do you observe this, Hostilius?
Second Stranger
Ay, too well.
First Stranger
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,
Supported his estate; nay, Timon’s money
Has paid his men their wages: he ne’er drinks,
But Timon’s silver treads upon his lip;
And yet — O, see the monstrousness of man
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!—
He does deny him, in respect of his,
What charitable men afford to beggars.
Third Stranger
Religion groans at it.
First Stranger
For mine own part,
I never tasted Timon in my life,
Nor came any of his bounties over me,
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest,
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue
And honourable carriage,
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,
And the best half should have return’d to him,
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.
Exeunt
SCENE III. A ROOM IN SEMPRONIUS’ HOUSE.
Enter Sempronius, and a Servant of Timon’s
Sempronius
Must he needs trouble me in ’t,— hum!—’bove all others?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem’d from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.
Servant
My lord,
They have all been touch’d and found base metal, for
They have au denied him.
Sempronius
How! have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?
And does he send to me? Three? hum!
It shows but little love or judgment in him:
Must I be his last refuge! His friends, like physicians,
Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?
Has much disgraced me in’t; I’m angry at him,
That might have known my place: I see no sense for’t,
But his occasion 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 its last? No:
So it may prove an argument of laughter
To the rest, and ’mongst lords I be thought a fool.
I’ld rather than the worth of thrice the sum,
Had sent to me first, but for my mind’s sake;
I’d 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
Servant
Excellent! Your lordship’s a goodly villain. The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic; 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 politic love.
This was my lord’s best hope; now all are fled,
Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,
Doors, that were ne’er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year must be employ’d
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows;
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house.
Exit
SCENE IV. THE SAME. A HALL IN TIMON’S HOUSE.
Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of Lucius, meeting Titus, Hortensius, and other Servants of Timon’s creditors, waiting his coming out
Varro’s
First Servant
Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.
Titus
The like to you kind Varro.
Hortensius
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucilius’ Servant Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine Is money.
Titus
So is theirs and ours.
Enter Philotus
Lucilius’ Servant And Sir Philotus too!
Philotus
Good day at once.
Lucilius’ Servant Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Philotus
Labouring for nine.
Lucilius’ Servant So much?
Philotus
Is not my lord seen yet?
Lucilius’ Servant Not yet.
Philotus
I wonder on’t; he was wont to shine at seven.
Lucilius’ Servant Ay, but the days are wax’d shorter with him:
You must consider that a prodigal course
Is like the sun’s; but not, like his, recoverable.
I fear ’tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse;
That is one may reach deep enough, and yet
Find little.
Philotus
I am of your fear for that.
Titus
I’ll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
Hortensius
Most true, he does.
Titus
And he wears jewels now of Timon’s gift,
For which I wait for money.
Hortensius
It is against my heart.
Lucilius’ Servant 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.
Hortensius
I’m 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.
Varro’s
First Servant
Yes, mine’s three thousand crowns: what’s yours?
Lucilius’ Servant Five thousand mine.
Varro’s
First Servant
’Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sun,
Your master’s confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall’d.
Enter Flaminius.
Titus
One of Lord Timon’s men. Lucilius’ Servant Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to come forth?
Flaminius
No, indeed, he is not.
Titus
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
Flaminius
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
Exit
Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled
Lucilius’ Servant Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.
Titus
Do you hear, sir?
Varro’s
Second Servant
By your leave, sir,—
Flavius
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
Titus
We wait for certain money here, sir.
Flavius
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 the 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.
Lucilius’ Servant Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Flavius
If ’twill not serve,’tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
Exit
Varro’s
First Servant
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
Varro’s
Second Servant
No matter what; he’s poor, and that’s revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in? such may rail against great buildings.
Enter Servilius
Titus
O, here’s Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
Servilius
If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some other hour, I should derive much from’t; for, take’t of my soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent: his comfortable temper has forsook him; he’s much out of health, and keeps his chamber. Lucilius’ Servant: Many do keep their chambers are not sick:
And, if it be so far beyond his health,
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts,
And make a clear way to the gods.
Servilius
Good gods!
Titus
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
Flaminius
[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
Enter Timon, in a rage, Flaminius following
Timon
What, are my doors opposed against my passage?
Have I been ever free, and must my house
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?
Lucilius’ Servant Put in now, Titus.
Titus
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius’ Servant Here’s mine.
Hortensius
And mine, my lord.
Both
Varro’s Servants And ours, my lord.
Philotus
All our bills.
Timon
Knock me down with ’em: cleave me to the girdle.
Lucilius’ Servant Alas, my lord,-
Timon
Cut my heart in sums.
Titus
Mine, fifty talents.
Timon
Tell out my blood.
Lucilius’ Servant Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Timon
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?— and yours?
Varro’s
Firs
t Servant
My lord,—
Varro’s
Second Servant
My lord,—
Timon
Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you!
Exit
Hortensius
’Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate ones, for a madman owes ’em.
Exeunt
Re-enter Timon and Flavius
Timon
They have e’en put my breath from me, the slaves.
Creditors? devils!
Flavius
My dear lord,—
Timon
What if it should be so?
Flavius
My lord,—
Timon
I’ll have it so. My steward!
Flavius
Here, my lord.
Timon
So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius:
All, sirrah, all:
I’ll once more feast the rascals.
Flavius
O my lord,
You only speak from your distracted soul;
There is not so much left, to furnish out
A moderate table.
Timon
Be’t not in thy care; go,
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide
Of knaves once more; my cook and I’ll provide.
Exeunt
SCENE V. THE SAME. THE SENATE-HOUSE. THE SENATE SITTING.
First Senator
My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault’s
Bloody; ’tis necessary he should die:
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.
Second Senator
Most true; the law shall bruise him.
Enter Alcibiades, with Attendants
Alcibiades
Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!
First Senator
Now, captain?
Alcibiades
I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,
Hath stepp’d into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into ’t.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,
Of comely virtues:
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice —
An honour in him which buys out his fault —
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch’d to death,
He did oppose his foe:
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave his anger, ere ’twas spent,
As if he had but proved an argument.
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