The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 631
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.
Does he need to bother me about it–hmph!–more
than anyone else?
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
and now Ventidius is wealthy too,
and he got him out of prison; all of them
owe their wealth to him.
Servant
My lord,
They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for
They have all denied him.
My lord,
they have all been tried and found to be false,
they have all turned him down.
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
What? Have they refused him?
Have Ventidius and Lucullus refused him?
And he's sent to me? Three of them? Eh?
This shows he doesn't have much love always done.
Am I to be his last resort? His friends who have done well
on his money give up on him; do I have to sort it all out?
This is a great insult to me; I'm angry with him,
I should have been top of his list. I can't see why
he didn't ask me first when he was in need:
for, to the best of my belief, I was the first man
that ever got a gift from him.
And does he think so little of me now
that I'm the last person he asks? No:
this way all the rest will laugh
at me, and the lords will think I'm a fool.
I would pay three times the sum he mentions
to have him ask me first, just because of my liking for him;
I was so keen to help him. But now send back to him
and add this answer to the unsupportive ones he already has:
if you insult my honour you won't get my money.
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
Excellent! Your lordship is a proper villain. The
devil didn't know what he was doing when he made men
cunning; he did himself a bad turn: and I can only
think that, in the end, the villainy of mankind will
triumph. What a good job this lord does of looking
innocent when being evil! He imitates a virtuous man
in order to be wicked, like those religious types who are
willing for whole countries to suffer for their faith:
this is what his cunning love is like.
This was my lord's best chance; now everyone but the
gods have given up on him: now he has no friends,
doors that were always open to him before
in the good times will now be used
to keep their master locked away.
This is all that generosity gets you;
you end up hiding in your house from your creditors.
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.
Good day to you, Titus and Hortensius.
TITUS
The like to you kind Varro.
The same to you, kind Varro.
HORTENSIUS
Lucius!
What, do we meet together?
Lucius!
Both here once, are we?
Lucilius' Servant
Ay, and I think
One business does command us all; for mine is money.
Yes, and I think
we're all here on the same business; I'm here for money.
TITUS
So is theirs and ours.
So are we and so are they.
Enter PHILOTUS
Lucilius' Servant
And Sir Philotus too!
And here's Sir Philotus as well!
PHILOTUS
Good day at once.
Good day to you all.
Lucilius' Servant
Welcome, good brother.
What do you think the hour?
Welcome, good brother.
What time is it?
PHILOTUS
Labouring for nine.
It's getting on towards nine.
Lucilius' Servant
So much?
As late as that?
PHILOTUS
Is not my lord seen yet?
Hasn't he been out yet?
Lucilius' Servant
Not yet.
Not yet.
PHILOTUS
I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.
I'm surprised; he used to come out 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.
Yes, but his days have grown shorter now:
you must think that the life of the profligate man
is like the orbit of the sun; but unlike the sun
he doesn't return after he has set.
I'm afraid it's deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;
one can reach as deep as one wants, but
you won't find anything.
PHILOTUS
I am of your fear for that.
That's what I'm afraid of.
TITUS
I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.
I'll tell you how to interpret an odd business.
Your lord has sent you for money.
HORTENSIUS
Most true, he does.
Very true, he has.
TITUS
And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift,
And he's wearing jewels which Timon gave him,
which is the reason he can't afford to pay me.
HORTENSIUS
It is against my heart.
It grieves me.
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.
Look how odd it is,
Timon is having to pay more than he owes:
he's given your lord the sum in rich jewels,
and now he's asking for the money as well.
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.
I'm fed up with this job, I swear to the gods:
I know my lord spent Timon's money,
and now his ingratitude makes it worse than stealing.
Varro's First Servant
Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?
Yes, mine's after three thousand crowns: what about yours?
Lucilius' Servant
Five thousand mine.
Mine wants five thousand.
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.
It's a large sum: and it would appear
that your master had more confidence than mine;
otherwise he would surely have lent the same.
Enter FLAMINIUS.
TITUS
One of Lord Timon's men.
Here's one of Lord Timon's men.
Lucilius' Servant
Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord ready to
come forth?
Flaminius! A word with you, sir: tell me, is my lord
ready to come out?
FLAMINIUS
No, indeed, he is not.
No, he certainly isn't.
TITUS
We attend his lordship; pray, signify so much.
We're waiting for his lordship; please, tell him so.
FLAMINIUS
I need not tell him that; he knows you are too diligent.
I don't need to tell him that; he knows how keen you are.
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.
Ha! Isn't that his steward all wrapped up?
He's going away in disguise: call him, call him.
TITUS
Do you hear, sir?
Can you hear me, sir?
Varro's Second Servant
By your leave, sir,--
Excuse me, Sir,–
FLAVIUS
What do ye ask of me, my friend?
What you want from me, my friend?
TITUS
We wait for certain money here, sir.
We are waiting here for payment, 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.
Yes,
if payment was as certain as the fact that you would wait for it,
it would be certain indeed.
Why didn't you come round with your accounts and bills
when your false masters were enjoying my lord's food?
Back then they smiled and flattered though he owed them,
and they gobbled the price of the interest with their greedy mouths.
You're not doing yourselves any favours by bothering me;
let me go quietly:
believe me, my lord and I finished;
I have no more accounts to add up, he hasn't any more money to spend.
Lucilius' Servant
Ay, but this answer will not serve.
Yes, but this answer won't serve.
FLAVIUS
If 'twill not serve,'tis not so base as you;
For you serve knaves.
If it won't serve, it's not as bad as you;
because you serve knaves.
Exit
Varro's First Servant
How! what does his cashiered worship mutter?
What's that? What does that jobless lord 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.
It doesn't matter what he says; he is poor, and that's
enough revenge. Someone who has nothing
finds it easy to criticise those who have much.
Enter SERVILIUS
TITUS
O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.
Oh, here's Servilius; now we shall have some answers.
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.
If I could ask you, gentlemen, to come back some
other time, I would really appreciate it; for,
I swear to you, my lord has become extremely
depressed: his usual good humour has deserted him;
he's very ill, and is staying in his room.
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.
Many stay in their rooms who are not ill:
and, if he's really that ill
I think he ought to pay his debts,
so he'll die with a clear conscience.
SERVILIUS
Good gods!
Good gods!
TITUS
We cannot take this for answer, sir.
We can't accept this as an answer, sir.
FLAMINIUS
[Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!
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?
What, are my doors locked against my exit?
Have I ever been free, must my house
now become my prison?
The place I used for feasting, does it now,
like all men, show me a hard heart?
Lucilius' Servant
Put in now, Titus.
Put it forward now, Titus.
TITUS
My lord, here is my bill.
My lord, here is my bill.
Lucilius' Servant
Here's mine.
Here's mine.
HORTENSIUS
And mine, my lord.
And mine, my lord.
Both Varro's Servants
>
And ours, my lord.
And ours, my lord.
PHILOTUS
All our bills.
These are all our bills.
TIMON
Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.
Knock me down with them: split me in two.
Lucilius' Servant
Alas, my lord,-
Alas, my lord,–
TIMON
Cut my heart in sums.
Chop my heart into portions.
TITUS
Mine, fifty talents.
My bill is for fifty talents.
TIMON
Tell out my blood.
You can take it out of my blood.
Lucilius' Servant
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
Five thousand crowns, my lord.
TIMON
Five thousand drops pays that.
What yours?--and yours?
Five thousand drops would pay for that.
What's yours?–And yours?
Varro's First Servant
My lord,--
My Lord,–