Call me before the exactest auditors And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me, With riotous feeders; when our vaults have wept And set mine eyes at flow. Tim. Pr'ythee, no more. Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord! How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants This night englutted! Who is not Timon's? What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord Timon's? Ah! when the means are gone that buy this praise Tim. Come, sermon me no further: Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack If I would broach the vessels of my love, And try the argument of hearts by borrowing, As I can bid thee speak. Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts! Tim. And, in some sort, these wants of mine are crown'd That I account them blessings; for by these Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends. Enter FLAMINIUS, SERVILIUS, and other Servants. Tim. I will despatch you severally :-you to Lord Lucius; -to Lord Lucullus you; I hunted with his honour to-day; -you to Sempronius: commend me to their loves; and ĺ am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to use 'em toward a supply of money: let the request be fifty talents. Flam. As you have said, my lord. Flav. Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum! [A side. Tim. Go you, sir [to another Serv.], to the senators,— Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have Deserv'd this hearing,-bid 'em send o' the instant Flav. I have been bold, For that I knew it the most general way,- Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice, May catch a wrench-would all were well-'tis pity;- After distasteful looks, and these hard fractions, Tim. You gods, reward them! Pr'ythee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows Have their ingratitude in them hereditary : Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it seldom flows; 'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind; And nature, as it grows again toward earth, Is fashion'd for the journey dull and heavy.Go to Ventidius [to a Serv.]; pr'ythee, [to FLAVIUS,] be not sad, Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak, No blame belongs to thee:-[to Serv.] Ventidius lately Into a great estate: when he was poor, Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends, I clear'd him with five talents: greet him from me; Bid him suppose some good necessity Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd With those five talents:-[to FLAV.]—That had,—give't these fellows To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak or think That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink. Flav. I would I could not think it: that thought is bounty's foe; Being free itself it thinks all others so. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-ATHENS. A Room in LUCULLUS' 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, sir. Enter LUCULLUS. Serv. Here's my lord. Lucul. [aside.] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin and ewer to-night.-Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are very respectively welcome, sir.-Fill me some wine. [Exit Servant.]-And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord and master? Flam. His health is well, sir. Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius? Flam. Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply; who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents, hath sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Lucul. La, la, la, la,—nothing doubting, says he? Alas, good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so good a house. Many a time and often I ha'e dined with him and told him on't; and come again to supper 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 ha'e told him on't, but I could ne'er get him from't. Re-enter Servant, with wine. Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine. Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise. Here's to thee. Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure. Lucut. I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit, give thee thy due,-and one that knows what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the time use thee well: good parts in thee.-Get you gone, sirrah [to the Servant, who goes out.]-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 saw'st me not. Fare thee well. Flam. Is't possible the world should so much differ: And we alive that liv'd! Fly, damned baseness, To him that worships thee. [Throwing the money back. Thou disease of a friend and not himself! It turns in less than two nights? O you gods, I feel my master's passion! This slave 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! SCENE II.-ATHENS. A public Place. Enter LUCIUS, with three Strangers. [Exit. Luc. Who, the Lord Timon? he is my very good friend, and an honourable gentleman. 1 Stran. 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. Luc. Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money. 2 Stran. 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. Luc. How? 2 Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord. Luc. 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. I have sweat to [TO LUCIUS. Fare thee well : Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; see his honour.-My honoured lord,Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. commend me to thy honourable-virtuous lord, my very exquisite friend. Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent, Luc. 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? Ser. Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents. Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me; He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents. Ser. But in the meantime he wants less, my lord. If his occasion were not virtuous I should not urge it half so faithfully. Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius? Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir. Luc. 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 honour!-Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able to do't,-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? Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. Luc. I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius. True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed; And he that's once denied will hardly speed. [Exit SER. [Exit. |